Who owns the copyright to a Noodles & Company franchisee's social media sites or pages?
Noodles_Company Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You agree not to promote, offer or sell any products or services relating to your Noodles & Company Restaurant through, or use any of the Marks on, the Internet, social media, social networks or other future technological avenues (collectively, "Social Media") without our prior written consent, which we may withhold for any or no reason. You must, at all times, comply with our Social Media policy, as modified periodically. You expressly acknowledge and agree that your use of any Social Media relating to your Noodles & Company Restaurant is subject to our prior written approval. You may not establish an independent site or page on any Social Media without our prior written consent. If we authorize you to have and/or design a site or a page on any Social Media for your Noodles & Company Restaurant, your site and page may only be accessed from our site or page, and we may prohibit links between your site or page and any other site. You acknowledge that any use of Social Media by you with respect to your Noodles & Company Restaurant constitutes advertising and promotion subject to this Section 10, and you agree to comply with any additional policies and standards we issue from time to time with respect to Social Media. You acknowledge that any copyright in your sites or pages on any Social Media will be deemed to be owned by us, and you agree to sign any documents that we reasonably deem necessary to affirm our ownership of the copyright. If necessary, you must ensure cooperation with us by any web site service provider or web site hosting company with which you do business. You represent that you have or will have the lawful right to use any proprietary materials of others that appear on your sites or pages on Social Media. We periodically may provide to you content for your sites and pages on Social Media, including copy, news stories and photographs. We must consent to any changes to your sites and pages on Social Media. You further agree to assign to us any domain names you obtain that we, in our sole discretion, request that you transfer to us that you used in connection with the Noodles & Company concept, and you further agree to assign any and all domain names used by you in the operation and promotion of your Noodles & Company Restaurant at such time as this Agreement is terminated.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 99–350)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Noodles & Company Franchise Disclosure Document, Noodles & Company owns the copyright to a franchisee's social media sites or pages related to their restaurant.
A Noodles & Company franchisee must obtain prior written consent from Noodles & Company before promoting or selling any products or services related to their Noodles & Company Restaurant through social media. This consent can be withheld for any reason. Franchisees must also comply with Noodles & Company's social media policy, which may be modified periodically.
The FDD states that any copyright in a franchisee's social media sites or pages will be deemed to be owned by Noodles & Company, and the franchisee agrees to sign any documents necessary to affirm this ownership. Franchisees must also ensure cooperation with Noodles & Company from any website service provider or hosting company they use. This means that while a franchisee may manage the day-to-day content, Noodles & Company retains ultimate control and ownership of the online presence.
This policy ensures that Noodles & Company maintains brand consistency and control over its image across all social media platforms. It also allows Noodles & Company to make changes to a franchisee's social media sites and pages and requires the franchisee to assign to Noodles & Company any domain names used in connection with the Noodles & Company concept upon termination of the Franchise Agreement.